Spurs 1-0 Crystal Palace: (match report)
Spurs marked their first home game of the season with a deserved 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace as Victor Wanyama scored an 83rd minute winner to give the Lillywhites their first win of the season. Mauricio Pochettino’s side didn’t take long to stamp their authority on the game and they nearly took the lead on 13 minutes, after an unmarked Toby Alderweireld had a good chance to score from the resulting corner. However, the Belgian didn’t connect too well with the ball as his header flew into the arms of Wayne Hennessey. Shortly before the half hour mark Hennessey again denied our lads from taking the lead after the Wales international scrambled Harry Kane’s effort from outside the box before spreading himself well to deny Janssen with an excellent save from the rebound. Kane came desperately close to breaking the deadlock, as deep in additional time of the first half Kane was found just outside the box before firing an effort narrowly wide of Hennessy’s left post.
Ten minutes in to the second Harry Kane again went agonisingly close to putting us ahead after receiving an excellent cross from Eric Dier, Kane who was under pressure from Pape Souaré headed his effort inches wide of the post. We constantly applied pressure to the south London club in the minutes that followed and were presented with a glorious opportunity on 69 minutes, after new singing Vincent Janssen who had impressed throughout, was gifted with a one on one opportunity after being found by Alli from the following cross. Janssen one on one with Hennessey got his angles wrong before side footing a wayward effort wide of the goal. Following his introduction to the game in the second half Alli brought a much needed spark to our game as well as bringing much needed energy to our attack. Almost half the stadium thought the youngster had scored on 79 minutes after Alli hit a first time shot on the edge of the box just over the cross bar, as many Spurs fans wondered if it just wasn’t going to be our day. However, four minutes later we finally took the lead through new signing Victor Wanyama. Erik Lamela’s corner was met by Harry Kane who’s header reached Victor Wanyama who nodded home from just in front of the keeper to send the Spurs fans roaring with delight, the final score Spurs 1-0 Crystal Palace.
It was a fantastic victory today and it was a game in which we dominated from start to finish, Pochettino will be proud of the lads performance and the determination in which they demonstrated. However, it was evident that we are still getting back to full match sharpness as a team though that should be something that comes to fruition in the coming games. Toby Alderweireld was exceptional in the centre of defence today and was in my opinion our best player, goalscorer Victor Wanyama also had an excellent performance in midfield as well as scoring the all important goal. In addition Kyle Walker had an excellent match at right back, It was a great team performance and one in which the team can build on. The lads have a weeks rest until next Saturday’s fixture against Liverpool and I am confident we will be able to record another victory at White Hart Lane next Saturday lunchtime if we can perform as well as we done today.
Spurs: Vorm; Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Wanyama; Lamela (Carroll 90+3), Kane (c, Onomah 90), Eriksen (Alli 68); Janssen. Substitutes (not used): McGee, Carter-Vickers, Davies, Mason.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Ward, Dann (c), Delaney (Tomkins 82), Souare; Ledley (Cabaye 46), Puncheon; Zaha, Lee (Mutch 82), Townsend; Wickham. Substitutes (not used): Speroni, Anderson, Kelly, Ladapo.
Goals: Spurs – Wanyama 83.
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